An early start from Seattle, and not far to go. I-90 east, but just to Mercer Island, Exit 7B, then south three miles to Island Crest Park. It's a new urban greenspace for me, with a promise of some trails. (I did download a map from www.mercergov.org/files/trailsICP.pdf and found it helpful.)

From the main parking lot I took the forest trail heading northwest, turned right at a junction, looped around the head of a ravine and continued north next to a schoolyard fence.

Then it was down a few rustic steps to the streets (SE 53rd Pl and Landsdowne Ln,) and back into the park on a narrow official trail heading south between back yards.

Then down a bit more and across the moist ravine on a low board bridge, then uphill slightly.

At a trail crossing, a short side trip to the right dead-ends where a stairway descends between two metal posts, and a sign beside the trail reads "Be Careful - Suspension Bridge - slippery when wet." But there is no bridge, at least not today, and the ongoing trail just ends in a prickly swamp.

So I retreat to the main trail and continue on south. At a three-way junction I take the left-most route and head uphill. At the top, and after a few stairs, I dodge around the rest room building and take the path south behind the ball field, heading for the "Trail" sign.

Then it's down a few stairs and a turn to the right, and that takes me back to the three-way junction where I head left and cross the ravine on a low wooden bridge.

At the next junction I head left again. That's the start of a quick loop out to 84th Ave SE, with a block north along the street then back into the park on a trail that returns to the junction.

I head left there, and soon pass the metal posts at the "other end" of the non-existent suspension bridge. At the next junction I do another loop out to 84th Ave SE, this time with a return on a trail that has some good views down into the ravine that's much deeper here.

Finally, I have to backtrack some short sections of trail that loop around, approach my first suspension bridge side trip, then head back uphill toward the parking lot.

These park trails wind through some fine forest. The usual Douglas fir and red cedars, some of them fairly large, and alders and maples that all are fully leafed out. There is a lot of moss, particularly near the ravines.

The trails all were in good condition today, with no significant mud and no blowdowns.

I saw very few wild flowers today - just occasional ocean spray, foxglove, avens and miner's lettuce. There were a few ripe thimbleberries.

I saw, and heard, a group of four jays chattering high up in the tree tops, and I heard a few racous crows, saw a robin or two plus a few smaller birds. No critters appeared for me today.

I had very little company on the trails today, and encountered just one other hiker and two joggers.